Tag Archives: stainless steel

Stainless Steel Fastener Magnetism

Are stainless steel fasteners magnetic?

A common misconception is that stainless steel is non-magnetic. There are five classes of stainless steel, and only one is non-magnetic. However, it just happens to be that the most widely used type (austenitic) is the one that is not magnetic. Class Magnetic? Common Types Ferritic Yes 430,442 Austenitic No 304,316 Martensitic Yes 410,416 Duplex... Read more

Stainless Steel F1554 Anchor Bolts

Do F1554 anchor bolts come in stainless steel?

The answer to this question is no. As stated in Section 1.1, the F1554 specification covers various configurations of, “…carbon, carbon boron, alloy, or high-strength alloy steel anchor bolts.” In general terms, for a steel to be considered “stainless” it must contain at least 10.5% chromium as part of its chemical composition and will often... Read more

SS316/SS304 vs. SS316L/SS304L

What is the difference between SS316/SS304 and SS316L/SS304L?

Stainless steel type 316 and type 304 are raw material grades for stainless steel. Stainless steel fasteners are sometimes referred to and ordered as their raw material grades (such as SS 316 and SS304) and sometimes referred to and ordered as their ASTM specification. The common ASTM specifications that cover stainless steel bolts are A193,... Read more

ASTM and Stainless Steel Washers

What is the ASTM specification for stainless steel washers?

Stainless steel washers are not made to an ASTM specification; they are only made to raw material specifications. Most stainless steel ASTM bolt specifications refer to the raw material specification they are made from as the appropriate washer to use in conjunction with the bolt. Hence, an ASTM A193 or A320 grade B8M bolt, made... Read more

Stainless Steel Grades

What are the differences between 18-8, type 304, and type 316 stainless steels?

To answer this question, you first need to know some basic information about stainless steel. “Stainless Steel” is the general name for a large family of alloy steels that contain at least 10.5% chromium as part of their composition. At and above this level of chromium, a complex chrome-oxide surface layer forms that prevents further... Read more

Stainless Steel Bolt Differences

What are the differences between hex bolts ordered as type 304 stainless steel, A193 Grade B8, and F593 Group 1 (type 304 stainless)?

Hex bolts are often ordered as a type 304 stainless and not to a specific ASTM specification. When bolts are ordered under the raw material grade (type 304) and not to an ASTM fastener specification, there are no specific requirements other than that they meet the chemical and physical requirements of 304 stainless steel and... Read more